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Catastrophic Injuries Fighting For You Like Family

Maryland Catastrophic Injury Attorneys

Proudly Serving the Prince George's, Charles, Calvert, and Anne Arundel Area

Life is never the same after a catastrophic injury. Many such injuries result in long-term pain and disability that affects relationships, careers, emotional well-being, finances, and more. The devastation can be compounded when the injury was caused by the negligence of someone else.

Receive your free consultation with our leading catastrophic injury attorneys in Maryland by calling (301) 820-7820 or contacting us online today!

What Is a Catastrophic Injury?

A catastrophic injury is so severe it permanently affects every aspect of life. Someone suffering a catastrophic injury will often be out of work for an extended time, maybe even the rest of their life. Their independence is throttled, and their enjoyment of life is forever changed. This type of loss is both physically painful and emotionally devastating.

The seriousness of such devastating trauma affects more than the injured individual. The lives of loved ones are also impacted. They may have to become caregivers, with their schedules revolving around tending to the injured and taking them to doctor’s appointments, physical therapy, and mental health counseling. They often must also take on extra responsibilities such as additional household chores and providing for the family’s financial welfare.

Examples of catastrophic injury include:

Causes of Serious Injuries

There are many sources of catastrophic injury. While motor vehicle accidents like car collisions, motorcycle accidents, and truck crashes are among the most common, there are many others, including:

  • Birth injuries
  • Medical malpractice
  • Pedestrian and bicycle accidents
  • Slips and falls
  • Motor vehicle accidents
  • Falling objects
  • Working with heavy machinery
  • Working on ladders or scaffolding
  • Contact sports
  • Acts of violence

Contact us today for a no-cost consultation by calling (301) 820-7820 or using our online form.

Damages for Catastrophic Injuries

Catastrophic injuries are often financially crippling, not to mention emotionally and physically destructive. If you or a loved one’s injury was caused by another person’s negligence or willful act, you have the right to hold that person accountable by seeking compensation to cover the physical, emotional, and mental costs of the catastrophic injury.

Maryland has no damage caps on economic costs, but there are limits for damage awards related to non-economic costs. Those damage caps differ depending on how the injury was caused. Caps are lower for medical malpractice cases.

Economic damages include costs of:

  • Doctor visits
  • Hospital stays
  • Lost wages, including future
  • Medication
  • Physical therapy
  • Property damage

Non-economic damages include:

  • Emotion distress
  • Loss of companionship
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Pain and suffering

Maryland law provides for the possibility of punitive damages, but the plaintiff must provide clear and convincing evidence that the responsible party acted with malice. This is a tough bar to overcome. When punitive damages are awarded, the purpose is to punish the person responsible, not compensate for any loss. There is no statutory cap on punitive damages. The judge or jury has discretion on how much is awarded.

Contributory Negligence

Maryland is one of only a handful of states that still follows contributory negligence. If the injured party is even 1% responsible for the accident, they are barred from seeking any damages.

Statute of Limitations

The statute of limitations, the time limit for filing a lawsuit after sustaining an injury, is three years for most personal injury cases. Circumstances can affect when you have the right to seek damages, so make sure to talk to one of our catastrophic injury attorneys if you are considering suing for damages.

Maryland Injury Lawyers with Decades of Experience

At Potter Burnett Law, we have been collectively handling complex legal cases for more than 60 years. Our proven catastrophic injury lawyers represent individuals from all walks of life throughout Maryland and Washington, D.C. Our boutique-style law firm ensures that each client receives the dedication and support they deserve as we work aggressively to bring negligent parties to justice.

Catastrophic Injury FAQ

  • Why should I hire a catastrophic injury lawyer? 
    We recommend that you hire a catastrophic injury lawyer to work on your case because there is just so much that depends on the outcome of it. If you lose your catastrophic injury claim, then you could be looking at a significant pile of bills left unpaid that you are now fully responsible for. Or you might not even be able to get the medical attention you need to recover, which could jeopardize your health and wellbeing. With your future comfort and security hinging on the outcome of your case, why take the risk by handling it alone when you don’t have years of legal experience and knowledge? Hiring a catastrophic injury attorney lets you turn their experience into your own.
  • What is the difference between a catastrophic personal injury case and a typical injury case? 
    A catastrophic injury case deals with severe, life-changing injuries. A personal injury case sometimes does. That is to say, all catastrophic injury cases are personal injury cases, but not the other way around. The actual laws and processes related to both case types are similar, though. There are no new legal procedures just because your injury is catastrophic. Although, there might be new steps to take to ensure that your claim is made correctly and thoroughly addresses all potential concerns and questions.
  • Are catastrophic injury claims guaranteed to be highly valuable? 
    No, the value of each catastrophic injury case is unique, so it can’t be promised that it will be valuable. Typically, a catastrophic injury causes worse damages like steeper medical bills and more months of missing wages. This is why the value of these cases tends to be higher than most personal injury claims, but, again, there is nothing that guarantees as much. What you can do is work with an experienced legal team like ours to ensure that all available damages in your catastrophic injury claim are identified and tallied correctly. In this way, you can be sure that your case has reached its maximum value, whatever it might be.

Contact us today at (301) 820-7820 to let our Maryland injury lawyers protect your rights and best interests inside and outside the courtroom!

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MILLIONS rECOVERED FOR INJURED VICTIMS

Recent Verdicts and Settlements That Change Lives Everyday

* Each case is different and the law firm's past record in obtaining favorable awards, judgments, or settlements in prior cases is no assurance of success in any future cases.

  • Vehicle Defect
  • Premises Liability
  • Medication Error Settlement
  • Car Accident Verdict
  • Car Accident Verdict
CHAMPIONING JUSTICE FOR OUR CLEINTS
  • We're Not Afraid to Go to Trial
    It takes a special breed of attorneys to take a case to trial, if needed. Our attorneys have done that - and have won!
  • High Quality Representation
    We are accessible, responsive and do whatever it takes to achieve the best possible result for our clients.
  • Female Leadership
    We are proud to have two female partners leading our team with their experience and compassion for victims.
  • Good Reputation Among Peers and the Bench
    Our firm is known for our commitment to our clients and fighting with passion and integrity for the justice they deserve.
  • Actively Involved in the Legal Community
    Staying involved in the legal community helps our attorneys stay informed, while building important relationships that benefit our clients.
  • Featured Speakers at Many Trial Lawyer Seminars
    As a leader in personal injury litigation, it's important to us to share our knowledge and experience with other legal professionals.

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